McRats for McCain

Everyone has heard of the Obamicans -- Republicans, such as Susan Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon, who back Democrat Barack Obama for President.

Now, we have the McRats -- Democrats who back Republican John McCain.

The presumptive Republican nominee's camp has established "Citizen for McCain," a group led by Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who caucuses with Senate Democrats for reasons of his own personal ambition but who is actively campaigning to become Secretary of State in a McCain cabinet.

This weekend, McCain and Lieberman announced a list of more than thirty current and recent Democrats who have abandoned the party to back the Republican.

The list is a credible one, including a former Democratic member of the House, Minnesota's Tim Penny (who left the party to mount an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2002 on the ballot line of Jesse Ventura's Independence Party), former state party chairs and legislative leaders, various local officials and some fund raisers and party operatives.

The McRats list does not, at least at this point, rival the stature of the "Democrats for Nixon" list of 1972, which included former Cabinet members and governors, sitting mayors of major cities and labor leaders. But McCain is attracting a credible measure of Democratic support and, more importantly, his campaign is smart enough to highlight that fact -- something the Obama camp has been slow to do with its Obamicans.

Here is the latest list of McRats:

Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson (Arizona)

Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Frye (West Virginia).

Whether Debra Bartoshevich, the Clinton delegate who has endorsed McCain, will actually make it to the floor of the Democratic National Convention in August remains to be seen. Party rules require that delegates be "bona fide Democrats," and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin will this week raise the question of whether a supporter of the likely Republican nominee for president meets the "bona fide" standard with the Democratic National Committee.

Comments (61)

1. Obviously they have no connection to any moral framework that Hillary Clinton was ever construed as being connected to. One is left with the suspicion that these women are simply ...

   Posted by Zero at 06/15/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

   Good to remember that these McRats really support the earmark queen of Congressional Corporate Democrats, not the phony campaign persona and platform of the HRC. Their support for McCain belies their true beliefs. If we can't have continuation of the status quo with Clinton, McCain is next best alternative to them. Good riddance I say.

   Posted by OneVote at 06/15/2008 @ 12:52pm

2. What an impressive list of McRats! A step away from dogcatchers & noise abatement officers. Fear not.

   Posted by Sorelish at 06/15/2008 @ 1:02pm

3. Doesn't the term "McRat" lend itself a negative connotation? That doesn't seem like a good PR move.

   Posted by k330k at 06/15/2008 @ 3:08pm

4. Commander of Newport Memorial-VFW Post 1119 Francis Harding, Jr. (Maine)

   Ooooooh, the Newport, Maine VFW commander, that's scary.

   Newport, Maine is pretty much a bump off of I95, better known for its Dysart's truck stop than for the political acumen of its inhabitants.

   How about a list of all the repubics who aren't supporting McNasty. Seems to me that there are a few more of them that are dissatisfied with their nominee than on the Dem side.

   Not that Obama should take comfort in that - he should still go out and thrash McCain at every opportunity.

   Posted by skeletonman at 06/15/2008 @ 4:47pm

5. I have to agree with Sorelish, I expected a much more impressive list of players. But, uhh, that's it?

   Posted by yutsano at 06/15/2008 @ 4:48pm

6. That's it for McRatz?

   That's risible.

   No contest.

   Now, how do we ensure that Obama & the lucky Dems go progressive, not retrogressive?

   Posted by sloper at 06/15/2008 @ 5:05pm

7. Now really, just how far are the McMice from the MIC MAD GOP? Pretty far I would think. But it surely doesn't seem that they do.

   Posted by hsuBfools at 06/15/2008 @ 7:59pm

8. McRats huh, how about DemoCains as for the biblic brother of Abel and the archetype of treason?

   I don't care for that petty list. What I do care for is the racist undertones of some people that have always been Dems and now are not voting for Obama. I mean they won't say it openly, but there it is, clear, as the strongest reason for their attitude. If people are not prepared for an African-American President two issues arise for me:

   1) When will they ever be prepared, or what is required for them to be prepared?

   2) It is an every day reality that a sizable fraction of people in the country are not prepared to concede power to minorities, nor they give equal opportunities to them.

   It is not over...we need to continue enforcing affirmative action.

   Posted by Frank42 at 06/15/2008 @ 8:10pm

9. er, DemoCains, sound like they're going for a trial ride in a car... What about DemiCains, DemCains or just D'Cains for better attracting the backwood clan types. But wouldn't it sound better like McDems-- but for a shorten version does McD's have a copy-right?

   Posted by hsuBfools at 06/15/2008 @ 8:30pm

10. they are shooting themselves in the foot.

    Posted by poet128 at 06/15/2008 @ 9:23pm

11. Lieberman will get his just deserts when the new senate takes its seat.

    no more committee plums for him.

    no doubt he'll switch parties.

    Posted by emile duBois at 06/15/2008 @ 9:42pm

12. Look, most of those are High A or Double A ball...hardly any AAA team players and except for Lieberman...anybody in "the Show"?

    Forget 'em.

    Posted by Mask at 06/15/2008 @ 10:16pm

13. Blogger on HillaryClinton.com Renee Slater?? City Clerk Judi May???

    Wow, that's scary! Who's next? Director Ed Wood?

    seems like much ado about nothing. Give us a break!

    Posted by Yell Fire at 06/16/2008 @ 02:01am

14. Pilot fish and plovers looking for a few scraps. If they weren't Dems endorsing a GOP, they would surely remain obscure.

    Posted by koroviev at 06/16/2008 @ 03:39am

15. McRats??? I know Barack must be shaking in his "shoes"What a stellar list.I guess they were also involved in writing some of those "corney a$$" jokes I saw Johnny Mac do on saturday night live.

    Posted by eniobob at 06/16/2008 @ 08:25am

16. Why do you demonize people that don't agree with you?

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 08:58am

17. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/hillary-clinton-for-president

    '...Dear DNC, I have voted Democratic since I cast my first vote for George McGovern in 1972, and I am still proud of that vote! However, 2008 is a different circumstance. Since Chairman Dean and the Rules and Bylaws of the Democratic Party stole votes from Senator Clinton, and gave them to candidate Obama. I will not, and cannot vote for Barack Obama because of the totally disrespectful treatment of Senator Clinton by the DNC, and the news media, not to mention the distortion of her views by Mr. Obama. Since Mr. Obama apparently has no intention of selecting Senator Clinton as his running mate, I will write in the name of Hillary Clinton for President on my Ohio ballot which is permitted in the State of Ohio. Hillary Clinton is the very BEST candidate prepared for the Presidency on day one, no on the job training, which Mr. Obama will require, much like the current President....' -- Jack McIntyre Jr, Ohio -- #1775

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 06/16/2008 @ 09:01am

18. I just read on the New York Times web page that Obama is a delegator much like President Bush. I guess we are in for more of the same.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 09:03am

19. Why do you demonize people that don't agree with you?

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008

    Maybe because that is what has been taught by the right-wing machine for the last 16 years?

    My wife is a "Femi-Nazi"

    I am a traitor and terrorist.

    We both are "mentally ill" and want the US to join Cuba.

    All according to republican supporters.

    You shall reap what you sow.

    ***

    I just read on the New York Times web page that Obama is a delegator much like President Bush. I guess we are in for more of the same.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/200

    Yea!, right!.

    Take a look at the campaign they created. Bush assumed the structure already in place, the American Taliban religious right. Rove used this to raise money and get the word out that "Bush is one of you". Without the RR, Bush would still be harmless in Texas.

    Obama create his from basically scratch. Much of the money machine came initially from entrepreneurs , then from millions of small donations.

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 @ 09:18am

20. http://tinyurl.com/64vpxz

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 09:20am

21. BTW : http://tinyurl.com/64vpxz

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 09:30am

22. I don't know if this is a fair comparison list, I think maybe The Nation might have left off some bigger names, but here are some Obama-cons:

    David Friedman, Miltons boy (which could prove abel correct, actually)

    Francis Fukuyama, the neoconservative theorist

    Jefery Hart, senior editor at NR

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 @ 09:31am

23. Posted by HonestLiberal at 06/16/2008

    99% of those are Republican posers. The rest are a few insane FRANK-like Hillary cultists.

    This "mass move" of "Hillary supporters for McCain" is a hoax. The polls show it. And it's easy to out the ones trying to pull it by asking them what parts of Hillary's agenda Obama would enact...and which parts would McCain enact.

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 10:05am

24. abell is a nutcase. howz that?

    Posted by emile duBois at 06/16/2008 @ 10:42am

25. sounds more like the McGerbils

    Capybaras for Obama!!!!!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/16/2008 @ 10:49am

26. Is Craig Williams (#3 on the list) the mayor of a town called Mammoth, or is he just a really big guy?

    Posted by hmhpapa at 06/16/2008 @ 11:11am

27. What about the nutras Frosty?

    Posted by yutsano at 06/16/2008 @ 11:22am

28. abell is a nutcase. howz that?

    Posted by emile duBois

    Maybe because that is what has been taught by the right-wing machine for the last 16 years?

    Posted by crabwalk

    I thought Obama was about rising above all of this?

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 11:23am

29. Maybe because that is what has been taught by the right-wing machine for the last 16 years?

    Posted by crabwalk

    And the Democrats are blameless? The Clintons are the masters of demonization as everyone knows.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 11:28am

30. A very sad list. Don't even publish it if that's the level of support you have. How much political courage does it take for a "Democrat" in Arizona, Georgia, or Miss. to come out for McCain? As for Lieberman, here's hoping he has a good time this year. After November, he'll have to switch parties in order to matter at ALL in the Senate. Thanks all you union jerks in Connecticut who backed him in '06! You managed to elect a Republican. Times like these make me yearn for loyalty. In THIS world--where you can't have everything--it's best to stick with the group that (overall) fits your worldview. As Disraeli once retorted to a restive backbencher: "Damn your principles sir! Stick with your Party!"

    Posted by Hamiltonian at 06/16/2008 @ 11:37am

31. There are two things that will KILL McCain with Democrats in November:

    1) HIS SUPPORT OF OVER-TURNING ROE V. WADE

    2) TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS THAT FAVOR THE RICH OVER THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE POOR

    ANY Democrat that ignores these two issues in favor of McCain over Obama is either racist, sexist, warmonger, or rich! (or all four!)

    Posted by Metteyya at 06/16/2008 @ 11:43am

32. Where is Frank to tell us about how this equates to every single one of the 18 million Hillary supporters even though Barack's leading in the pole. I am sure he will find some way to say that the only reason Barack is leading is because people are lying now so that come the generals their votes will be even more scary swinging the other way or something like that.

    To abell. I don't think anyone is demonizing here we are just poking fun at the fact that McCain is pressing this list like its a huge deal but when you look at the list none of these people are high on the ladder. They are pressing a list that contains:

    Blogger on HillaryClinton.com Renee Slater (Florida)

    City Clerk Judi May (Mississippi)

    These people's names would never even be mentioned normally but McCain is trying to give some credibility to this movement beyond the normal trickle across party lines by highlighting the names in a list that has no one on it that is shocking. Everyone knows Lieberman is only a Demo by name, so he doesn't much matter.

    This isn't demonizing as you so melodramatically put it. This is showing McCain's list for what it is, a group of people that would trickle over no matter what because there are always crossovers during election.

    Also the reason we have the attitudes we do is because of people like LV. Who called everyone who posts here a traitor and said in the good old days we would be shot. Yes the Clintons are VERY good at demonizing people. It started with Nixon though, one of your party.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 12:18pm

33. 'In politics, Disraeli speedily acquired a reputation for opportunism and lack of principle. "A mighty impartial personage", he stood first at Wycombe as a Radical in 1832, eventually entering Parliament as a Tory in 1837. Mortified by the refusal of Prime Minister Robert Peel to give him an office in 1841, he destroyed Peel's government in 1846 in a series of brilliantly vitriolic speeches over the Corn Laws, an issue about which he cared very little. No wonder men asked whether Benjamin Disraeli believed in anything except himself.' -- Jane Ridley -- 'Young Disraeli,' page 3 -- Sinclair-Stevenson Press, 1995

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 06/16/2008 @ 12:26pm

34. By the way, McRats, not such a catchy name. They shouold probably think about changing that. DemoCains maybe? DeCains, no that's not the right tone they are looking for. McMos, that could work.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 12:31pm

35. I just read on the New York Times web page that Obama is a delegator much like President Bush. I guess we are in for more of the same.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008

    I suppose using your logic-- just because a drunk driver drives a car and I, being sober, drive a car-- ergo the effect is rendered the same because we both drive cars... Very faulty logic, or is it really-- a'logicalliness? Kinda like the Supreme court vote to dis-vote Al Gore in 2000, no precedent; only vacuum. And like a vacuum-- it sucks. Can we say-- a'stare decisis... NOT.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 12:34pm

36. And the Democrats are blameless? The Clintons are the masters of demonization as everyone knows.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008

    No question that the Clintons learned well, but the Masters remain the republican fear machine. It "started" way back in the good 'ol days of the 1800's. Those folks really knew how to describe an opponent, truth meant nothing. (kind of like ChimpCo!)

    That is one thing that is so darn funny about the Hillary Whiners! They watched as their candidate used Atwater/Clinton politics at it's finest, now they claim that "the media" was just plain mean to Hillary. awww, poor Hillary.

    --

    Just think, if Gore had actually run a good campaign, all of his supporters would be backing Liberman now!

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 @ 12:47pm

37. The one thing that should KILL Obama ishis support of socialism and the redistribution of wealth through his tax plan.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 1:11pm

38. Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008

    Considering the shit Lie berman pull after the nom, he would've been thrown under the bus by 2004.

    Odds are Al would have a different VP by now. Possibly a Richardson or Biden...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 1:12pm

39. obama

    socialism.....

    hahahahahahaha

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/16/2008 @ 1:16pm

40. Posted by hsuBfools

    Still mad that the Supreme court wouldn't let the Florida Supreme Court steal the election from George Bush?

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 @ 1:31pm

41. "But many oil companies from those countries have expressed reservations about how to turn potential crude oil into product. Cuba doesn't have the refinery capacity, and the Cuban embargo prohibits the oil from coming to U.S. refineries, Pinon said.

    The most recent high-profile contract with Cuba went to Brazil's state oil company, Petrobras. Cuba inked a contract with Petrobras in January, allowing the Brazilian energy giant to search for oil in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico that are within Cuba's sovereign territory. Brazil's foreign minister, Celso Amorim, traveled to Cuba last month and talked up the oil business, along with a joint venture between Cuba and Petrobras to produce lubricants."

    Maybe we should break our embargo and cut a deal with Cuba. We could start drilling on their land too at that point.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 1:45pm

42. Wrong thread on above post.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 1:45pm

43. Just think, if Gore had actually run a good campaign, all of his supporters would be backing Liberman now!----Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008

    I'd trade a potential Lieberman candidacy in 2008....for 4100+ ALIVE American GIs and nearly a TRILLION dollars in debt wiped away, crab.

    Besides, hsub is half-right.

    Gore wouldn't drop Lieberman as Veep (that's more HF fantasy talk), but Lieberman would be pretty unpopular in the Party and likely Her Nibs and/or Obama would have knocked him out of the running early on (not as early as he was in 2004...but by Super Tuesday).

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 1:47pm

44. Maybe we should break our embargo and cut a deal with Cuba. We could start drilling on their land too at that point.----Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008

    A point lost...or hypocritically ignored by most of these "China's drilling off our coast" Right-wingers.

    WE (as in "our" Oil Companies) could have bid on those leases too, and probably gotten them, given our proximity to Cuba.

    But they COULDN'T because of the Cuban trade embargo...

    which the Right has to uphold to keep the Cuban Republicans and the die-hard "No dealings with Castro ever" Hard Right.

    The Right is complaining about something....they support!

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 1:50pm

45. More than likely Her Highness just because, well, that's what she became a Senator for anyway. Obama made his career because of the Iraq War if you think about it. Without it he would be a quiet junior Senator from Illinois.

    Posted by yutsano at 06/16/2008 @ 1:52pm

46. Posted by abell12ct at 06/16/2008 |

    Abell, like LVLIB, you think everything done since HOOVER is "socialism"...or maybe back to McKINLEY!

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 2:27pm

47. The Right is complaining about something....they support!

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008

    Or they would just drill on their land and bully the big bad threat that Cuba is. Why do we not deal with Castro? I still don't get it. He's not a threat. Hell we deal with people who have done MUCCCCHHH worse things than he ever has on a daily basis. I hate some of the stances that Republicans take that have NO logical underpinning whatsoever. But whatever. They will continue to blame the left ignoring their own collusion in the inability to drill off our coasts in a field that will last us at most 1 year.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 2:33pm

48. Petrobras platform P-36.

    google it, watch the video.

    "Trust us"

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 @ 3:08pm

49. osted by Mask at 06/16/2008

    Gore endorses Obama

    By NEDRA PICKLER – 41 minutes ago FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- Al Gore says he is backing Barack Obama and will do whatever he can to help him get to the White House.

    In a letter to be e-mailed to Obama supporters, Gore says Obama has united a movement over the past year and a half.

    The former vice president also asks for donations to help fund Obama's effort -- the first time he's asked members of his Web site AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign.

    Gore is one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, but he kept a low profile in the primary campaign. He's planning to appear with Obama at a rally in Detroit Monday night.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 3:52pm

50. Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008

    So 41 MINUTES AGO....

    Al Gore jumps on the Obama train, which pulled out of the station TWO WEEKS AGO?

    Yeah....sounds about right for ol' Al.

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 3:55pm

51. Hey, one does not to meet at the train station if one is already in the air... Sometimes it takes a while for the other to take flight as well.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 3:59pm

52. "I've never asked members of AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign before, but this moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action," Mr. Gore said. He added, "Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action."

    "Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges -- including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis," Mr. Gore said. "Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America."

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/16/2008 @ 4:04pm

53. I'm waiting for the (hopefully) inevitable blog about Al finally deciding to weigh in. Then I'll give my opinion of that.

    Posted by yutsano at 06/16/2008 @ 4:40pm

54. I'm waiting for the (hopefully) inevitable blog about Al finally deciding to weigh in. Then I'll give my opinion of that.

    Posted by yutsano at 06/16/2008 @ 4:47pm

55. Abell, like LVLIB, you think everything done since HOOVER is "socialism"...or maybe back to McKINLEY!

    Posted by Mask

    You probably hate everything that Republicans have done going back to Lincon!

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008 @ 12:40am

56. Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008

    Nope, guess again. As I've often had to apologize for, I voted for Dubya in 2000.

    Voted for Reagan and Bush-41 too. Went with Bill in 1992 and 1996.

    BTW, I notice you didn't DENY what I said....i.e. that you consider everything back to Roosevelt (maybe beyond) to be "socialism"???

    Posted by Mask at 06/17/2008 @ 12:40pm

57. Nope, guess again. As I've often had to apologize for, I voted for Dubya in 2000.

    Posted by Mask at 06/17/2008

    BAD MASK! BAD!

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/17/2008 @ 12:53pm

58. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/17/2008

    (Hangs head in shame)...

    but atleast I'm not going to make the same mistake (aka CRABWALK and Nader)...

    or think McCain is anything but "McSame".

    But it does kind of blow out of the water the ABELL (or LVLIB) attack that I'm "no different from the lefties who inhabit this blog" that they and I made the same mistake in 2000.

    Posted by Mask at 06/17/2008 @ 3:44pm

59. But it does kind of blow out of the water the ABELL (or LVLIB) attack that I'm "no different from the lefties who inhabit this blog" that they and I made the same mistake in 2000.

    Posted by Mask at 06/17/2008

    This is true. I actually like some of the Repub policies. I wouldn't mind no income tax and junk like that.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/17/2008 @ 3:52pm

60. The new cons royally fucked up the GOP.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 06/18/2008 @ 01:49am

61. Nope, guess again. As I've often had to apologize for, I voted for Dubya in 2000.

    posted by mask

    No apologies necessary. You did the right thing with the intelligence available. Hmmmnnn sounds familiar

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/18/2008 @ 07:26am